The relatively earlier-than-expected announcement would make some sense; Apple repeatedly cited next-generation iPhone rumors as being the reason iPhone 4S sales fell short last quarter, so the sooner a new product hits shelves the better. The basics are a stretched-out 4-inch screen and a smaller dock connector. But details about leaked components have ranged from smuggled phones to leaked parts to fully assembled units made from those parts. If those hold up, the next iPhone has been making the rounds for a while now.

The full announcement list will reportedly include the new iPhone, the iPad Mini, a new iPod Nano, and most likely the final version of iOS 6. iMore is also hearing that the iPad Mini is essentially a 7-point-something-inch version of the current iPad, and the new iPhone will have a 4-inch, 16:9 ratio screen.

We've heard over and over and over that an iPad Mini is coming, and it makes sense. Not only because the rumored 7-odd-inch would put Apple on the playing field that the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google's new Nexus 7 tablets are taking advantage of, but the size would allow it to maintain the same relative scale of existing apps and maintain a usable UI.

Update 2:NY Times agrees, going so far as to confirm the September 12th announcement date (although it only confirms an iPhone announcement, with no mention of an iPad Mini). Looks like we're going to have a busy fall!